Lamp housing and electric terminal construction

ABSTRACT

A lamp housing in which a crook-shaped terminal is looped around a split pin through which the bared end of an electric wire is inserted, so that the terminal contacts the bared end. One projecting part of the terminal is biased toward the center contact of an electric bulb by reason of another projecting part thereof bearing against a portion of the housing.

United States Patent Inventor Hugo Magi Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada817,400

Apr. 18, 1969 May 25, 1971 Dominion Auto Accessories Limited Toronto,Ontario, Canada Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee LAMP HOUSING ANDELECTRIC TERMINAL CONSTRUCTION 7 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 240/8.2, 339/188, 339/217 Int. Cl 860: 1/32, HOlr 33/48 Field ofSearch 240/ 8.2, 8.3; 339/188 (C), 174 (Inquiry), 188 (R), 256 (T), 217(R) [56] References Cited UNITED STATES IPATENTS 3,072,878 1/1963Woodward et al 339/2 l 7X 3,226,537 12/1965 Hanson et al 240/823,320,607 5/1967 Rueger.......................... 339/221X 3,391,3767/1968 Hammell et al 339/217X Primary Examiner-S. Clement SwisherAssistant Examiner-Daniel M. Yasich Attorney-Sim & McBurney ABSTRACT: Alamp housing in which a crook-shaped terminal is looped around a splitpin through which the bared end of an electric wire is inserted, so thatthe terminal contacts the bared end. One projecting part of the terminalis biased toward the center contact of an electric bulb by reason ofanother projecting part thereof bearing against a portion of thehousing.

LAMP HOUSING AND ELECTRIC TERMINAL CONSTRUCTION This invention relatesgenerally to lamp housings of the kind used for marker lights andclearance lights on vehicles. More particularly. this invention relatesto the interior of such a lamp housing, and to the shape and mountingarrangement of one of the terminals adapted to contact the light bulb.

One of the disadvantages of conventional lamp housings of the kind towhich this invention is directed has to do with the large number ofsteps required for assembly. In many conventional lamp housings, anumber of threaded fasteners are used, usually requiring correspondingtapped holes, while others require the soldering of wires to terminals,often in difficult 1ocations. Conventional lamp housings requiringthreaded fasteners and/or soldering are by necessity more expensive tomanufacture and more difficult to assemble.

In view of the above disadvantages of conventional lamp housings, it isan object of this invention to provide a lamp housing constructionrequiring no threaded fasteners and no soldering.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an electric terminalfor use within a specially constructed lamp housing, the electricterminal being such as to perform four separate functionssimultaneously: (a) to provide electrical contact between an electricwire and the central terminal of a bulb, (b) to urge a bulb into itsbayonet-locking position in the bulb socket, (c) to crimp the electricwire where it contacts the same so as to establish good electric contactand to preclude the possibility of the wire being pulled out of the lamphousing, and (d) to maintain itself resiliently in its desired positionwithout the aid of soldering or threaded fasteners.

Accordingly, this invention provides, in combination, a lamp housinghaving a bulb socket and a split pin projecting from the lamp housingadjacent the bulb socket substantially normal to the bulb socket axis,and a resilient terminal looped around the split-pin to at leastpartially encircle the latter and having one end adapted for electricalconnection with the cen tral contact of a bulb in the bulb socket, andthe other end adapted to bear resiliently against a part of the lamphousing in a direction which results in said one end being urged towardthe bulb, the split-pin being adapted to receive the bared end of a wiresuch that the portion of the resilient tenninal which loops around thesplit-pin contacts said bared end.

One embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings,in which like numerals denote like parts throughout the several views,and in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspective view of the essential elements inthis invention, the lamp housing being partly cut away;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the lamp housing of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the terminal of this invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the terminal of this invention, from adifferent angle;

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view taken in the plane of the split-pinas shown by the lines 5-5 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a view of the split-pin normal to the view shown in FIG. 5,with the split-pin being shown in elevation;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 5, with the terminal of FIG. 3 inposition, and the bared end of an electric wire lodged in the split ofthe split-pin; and

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but includes all of the necessarycomponents required to illuminate the bulb.

Attention is first directed to FIG. 1, in which there is shown a portionof a lamp housing 10 having sidewalls l2 and a bottom wall I4. Asocket-defining portion 16 is integral with bayonet-type joint for aconventional bayonet-type bulb. The specific construction of thesocket-strap 26 and the socketdefining portion 16 will not be describedin detail here, because the conventional bayonet-type joint does notform part of this invention.

Also shown in FIG. I is an electric terminal 44 which is adapted to fitdown over the split-pin 24. In FIG. I, the electric terminal 44 is shownvertically above the split-pin 24.

As best seen in FIGS. I, 3, 4 and 8, the terminal consists ofacylindrical portion 46 which is adapted to partly encircle the split-pin24, a flat band portion 48 which is integral with the cylindricalportion 46 and extends substantially tangentially therefrom, and an endportion 50 joined integrally with the cylindrical portion 46 through asection 52 which is curved in the opposite direction from the curvatureof the cylindrical portion 46, such that the end portion 50 extendssubstantially perpendicularly away from the flat band portion 48. Alongthe margin 54 of the end portion 50 are two teeth 55 which are adaptedto dig into the part 23, thereby gripping the latter and maintaining theelectric terminal 44 in the desired position axially of the split-pin24.

As shown in FIG. 8, the electric terminal 44 is adapted to slide downover the split-pin 24, and is designed in such a way that the flat bandportion- 48 is pressing in the clockwise direction (about the split-pin24) against the central contact 57 of a bulb 58, while the end portion50 presses in the counterclockwise direction (about the split-pin 24)against the part 23.

FIG. 8 shows the bulb 58 in its locked bayonet position within thesocket defined between the socket-strap 26 and the socket-definingportion 16.

Attention is now directed to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, in which the split'pin 24is shown. As seen particularly in FIGS. 5 and 6, the split 60 down thecenter of the split-pin 24 does not really extend all the way to thebottom wall 14 of the lamp housing 10. The bottom of the split 60 in thesplit-pin 24 has substantially an inverted V-shape 62 so that, as shownin FIG. 7, the bared end 63 of a wire 65 can be lodged in the split 60,and the electric terminal 44 can be brought down around the split-pin 24far enough to crimp the bared end 63 ofthe wire 65. When the bared end63 is crimped in this manner the wire 65 cannot be manually pulled awayfrom its contact with the electric terminal 44. The crimping and thecontact between the bared end 63 and the electric terminal 44 is clearlyshown in FIG. 7.

It will now be appreciated that the function of the teeth 55 is tomaintain the electric terminal 44 in the FIG. 7 axial location withrespect to the split-pin 24, such' that the bared end 63 of the wire 65is maintained in its crimped, gripped condition.

Attention is now directed to FIG. 4, in which two notches 68 are shownin antipodal locations around the cylindrical portion 46 of the electricterminal 44. The notches 68 are located in such a way as to be alignedwith the split 60 in the split-pin 24, and the bared end 63 is receivedwithin the notches 68, thus permitting the cylindrical portion 46 of theelectric terminal 44 to be pressed down firmly against the bottom wall14 of the lamp housing 10.

It will be appreciated that the V-shaped 62 at the bottom of the split60 is not essential to this invention. In fact, it is conceivable thatthe bottom of the split 60 could be even with the bottom wall 14 of thelamp housing 10, provided the pressure of the electric terminal 44downwardly against the bared end 63 of the wire 65 were sufficient tohold the wire 65 in position.

In FIG. 1, wire 65 is shown passing upwardly through the more remote ofthe two bore holes 20 and then bending around toward the bottom wall 14.Probably, the bend in the wire 65 the bottom wall 14 and defines asubstantially semicylindrical recess 17.

A cartridge 18 is integral with the sidewalls 12 of the lamp housing 10,and has two bore holes 20 which pass through the bottom wall 14 of thelamp housing 10, and thus communicate the interior of the lamp housingwith the exterior thereof. An interior wall 22 extends between thecartridge I8 and the socket-defining portion I6. A part 23 is integralwith and outstanding from the sidewalls 12 on the remote side of theinterior wall 22. Also on the remote side of the interior wall 22 is anintegral, upstanding split-pin 24 positioned, as shown in FIG. 2,approximately midway between the interior wall 22 and the part 23. I

Returning to FIG. I, a socket-strap 26 has a semicylindrical portion 28,two wing portions 30, each having an aperture 3i,

and a leg portion 32. At the bottom of the leg portion 22 is ahorizontal portion 34 having pairs of grip-tabs 36 adapted to grip thebared end38 of a wire 40 which enters the interior of the lamp housingthrough the nearer of the two bores 20 in FIG. 1.

The socket-defining portion 16 has two integral protuberances 42 whichare adapted to register with the apertures 31 when the socket-strap 26is brought down to rest against the socket-defining portion 16. Once inthis position, the protuberances 42 are deformed in such a way that thesocket-strap 26 cannot be removed. Preferably, the protuberances 42 aremade of material capable of softening under the application of heat,such as a thermoplastic material, and, once the socketstrap 26 is inposition with the protuberances 42 registering with the apertures 31, awelding tool is brought into contact with the protuberances 42 to expandthem in the manner of a rivet, such that the socket-strap 26 is securedin position. The socket-strap 26 and thesocket-defining portion 16define a conventional shown in FIG. I would be sufficient to resist anyattempt to pull the wire 65 out of the lamp housing 10, providing theelectric terminal 44 were securely positioned against the bottom wall 14of the lamp housing 10.

it is mentioned above that the protuberances 42 can be advantageouslymade of a material capable of softening under the application of heat,and those familiar with the art to which this invention pertains willappreciate the economic advantage to be realized by integrally moldingthe lamp housing 10, the socket-defining portion 16, the interior wall22, the cartridge 18, the split-pin 24, and the part 23, all from thesame material in a single molding operation.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. in combination:

a lamp housing having a bulb socket and a split-pin projecting from thelamp housing adjacent the bulb socket substantially normal to the bulbsocket axis,

and a resilient terminal looped around the split-pin to at leastpartially encircle the latter and having one end adapted for electricalconnection with the central contact of a bulb in the bulb socket, andthe other end adapted to bear resiliently against a part of the lamphousing in a direction which results in said one end being urged towardthe bulb,

the split-pin being adapted to receive the bared end of a wire such thatthe portion of the resilient terminal which loops around the split-pincontacts said bared end.

2. The invention claimed in claim 1, in which said other end of theresilient terminal has tooth means adapted to grip said part of the lamphousing.

3. The invention claimed in claim 1, in which the split of the split-pinis shorter than the split-pin, such that the bared end of a wire lodgedin the split is adapted to be crimped by the resilient terminal when thelatter encircles the split-pin.

4. The invention claimed in claim 1, in which the bottom of the split inthe split-pin has substantially an inverted V-shape, such that theresilient terminal looped around the split-pin is adapted to crimp thebared end of a wire lodged in the split.

5. The invention as claimed in claim 4, in which the resilient terminalhas a cylindrical portion adapted to at least partially encircle thesplit-pin, tee cylindrical portion having notches aligned with the splitin the split-pin, the V-shaped grooves being adapted to receive thebared end of the wire extending out either side of the split.

6. The invention claimed in claim 5, in which said other end of theresilient terminal has tooth means adapted to grip the said part of thelamp housing, thereby to resist displacement of the resilient terminallongitudinally of the split-pin.

7. The invention as claimed in claim 6, in which said one end of theresilient terminal is a flat band portion, the flat band portion beingintegral with said cylindrical portion and extending substantiallytangentially therefrom, and in which said other end is joined integrallywith said cylindrical portion through a section curved in the oppositedirection from the cylindrical ortion so that said other end extendssubstantially perpendicu arly away from the flat band portion, the saidpart of the lamp housing exerting a force on said other end which istransmitted around the cylindrical portion to the band portion and urgesthe latter away from the said part of the housing and towards the bulb.

1. In combination: a lamp housing having a bulb socket and a split-pinprojecting from the lamp housing adjacent the bulb socket substantiallynormal to the bulb socket axis, and a resilient terminal looped aroundthe split-pin to at least partially encircle the latter and having oneend adapted for electrical connection with the central contact of a bulbin the bulb socket, and the other end adapted to bear resilientlyagainst a part of the lamp housing in a direction which results in saidone end being urged toward the bulb, the split-pin being adapted toreceive the bared end of a wire such that the portion of the resilientterminal which loops around the split-pin contacts said bared end. 2.The invention claimed in claim 1, in which said other end of theresilient terminal has tooth means adapted to grip said part of the lamphousing.
 3. The invenTion claimed in claim 1, in which the split of thesplit-pin is shorter than the split-pin, such that the bared end of awire lodged in the split is adapted to be crimped by the resilientterminal when the latter encircles the split-pin.
 4. The inventionclaimed in claim 1, in which the bottom of the split in the split-pinhas substantially an inverted V-shape, such that the resilient terminallooped around the split-pin is adapted to crimp the bared end of a wirelodged in the split.
 5. The invention as claimed in claim 4, in whichthe resilient terminal has a cylindrical portion adapted to at leastpartially encircle the split-pin, tee cylindrical portion having notchesaligned with the split in the split-pin, the V-shaped grooves beingadapted to receive the bared end of the wire extending out either sideof the split.
 6. The invention claimed in claim 5, in which said otherend of the resilient terminal has tooth means adapted to grip the saidpart of the lamp housing, thereby to resist displacement of theresilient terminal longitudinally of the split-pin.
 7. The invention asclaimed in claim 6, in which said one end of the resilient terminal is aflat band portion, the flat band portion being integral with saidcylindrical portion and extending substantially tangentially therefrom,and in which said other end is joined integrally with said cylindricalportion through a section curved in the opposite direction from thecylindrical portion so that said other end extends substantiallyperpendicularly away from the flat band portion, the said part of thelamp housing exerting a force on said other end which is transmittedaround the cylindrical portion to the band portion and urges the latteraway from the said part of the housing and towards the bulb.